Flip-Flop Type Shoes and Method of Fastening Straps on the Soles of  Flip-Flop Type Shoes

ABSTRACT

Flip-flop or sandal type shoes and a method for making a flip-flop or sandal type shoe having interchanging straps, the method may comprise selecting a sole for the shoe, the sole having one or more sole housings, each sole housing comprising an upper portion and a lower portion. One or more fastening terminals are placed in the lower portion of the sole housing. The fastening terminal may comprise a threaded screw and a button surrounding the head of the screw. A strap may be placed over the one or more sole housings and the threaded screw screwed into a threaded stopper.

PRIORITY DATA

This application claims priority to Brazilian application, PI 0604324 filed Oct. 20, 2006 and PCT/IB2007/053294 filed Aug. 17, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flip flop type shoe or sandal having removable strap components, particularly strap components that are easily removable by the consumer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The competitive shoe industry, is characterized by mass production of new shoes that are readily available to consumers. One problem with the aforementioned mass production of shoes lies in the fact that the end consumer is limited to the mass-produced shoe styles. Mass production restricts the end consumer from being creative or unique with his/her shoes. This is also true with flip-flop and sandal type shoes, which are characterized by a strap fastened to a sole.

Normally, production of this type of shoe entails gluing the ends of the straps to the sole, and in the case of sandals having a leather base, to the upper part of the sole. For flip-flop and sandal type shoes manufactured with polyester material, the aforementioned straps are designed in such a way so as to have terminals on their ends shaped like balloons, cylindrical and oblong, among other shapes, which are received in the holes previously defined on the sole.

With respect to flip-flop or sandal type shoes manufactured with polyester or elastomeric materials, the straps normally cannot be removed from the sole. An attempt to do so by the end consumer usually results in damage to the shoe. Thus, the end consumer must acquire several sandal models if they intend to have a large collection of this type of footwear, which implies a high acquisition cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides new shoe designs, specifically flip-flop or sandal type shoes, having an improved flexibility of use and practical alteration of aesthetics. The inventive solution found with the new shoe designs comprises shoe mounting strap components that allow greater general productivity in manufacturing flip-flop or sandal type shoes. The present invention provides the end consumer with the flexibility to alter the aesthetic appearance of a shoe. In one embodiment of this invention, the new type of straps may easily be fastened and unfastened to the sole, allowing the end user to change the overall style of the shoe at will at a minimal cost.

This unprecedented ability of alteration in the aesthetic profile of flip-flops and sandals grants the manufacturer a competitive edge due to the potential for presenting a variety of new shoe models.

The end consumer thus has, in only one shoe, the possibility of creating several distinct models, which is of great commercial appeal for both children and adults. The invention increases the end consumer's buying power and ability to form a private shoe collection. For example, the end consumer can acquire a plurality of models of straps with different aesthetics and decorations and interchangeably use the different models of straps with a single sole.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a flip-flop or sandal type shoe, the shoe comprising one or more threaded stoppers. The one or more fastening terminals are used to engage with the one or more threaded stoppers. The one or more fastening terminals comprising a threaded screw and a button surrounding the head of the screw. A strap manufactured from a polymeric or elastomeric material. In one embodiment, the strap comprises a main body and one or more ends, each end comprising a strap housing to receive the one or more threaded stoppers. In another embodiment, the sole is comprised of one or more sole housings, the one or more sole housings having an upper portion defining a cavity to receive the one or more ends of the strap, and a lower portion defining a recess to receive the one or more fastening terminals, wherein the one or more fastening terminals are fastened to the one or more threaded stoppers within the one or more housings.

A method for making a flip-flop or sandal type shoe having interchanging straps, may comprise selecting a sole for the shoe, the sole having one or more sole housings, each sole housing comprising an upper portion and a lower portion. One or more fastening terminals are placed in the lower portion of the sole housing, the fastening terminal comprising a threaded screw and a button surrounding the head of the screw. A strap may be placed over the one or more sole housings, each new strap having ends. A threaded stopper may be positioned within one of the ends. The end may be positioned within the upper portion of each sole housing. The threaded screw of a fastening terminal may be screwed into the treaded stopper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a strap of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe according to one embodiment.

Detail 1 is a detail view of a threaded stopper and an end of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe strap according to one embodiment.

Detail 2 is a detail view of a threaded stopper adhesively fastened to an end of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe strap according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe strap and a sole according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe according to one embodiment.

Detail 3 is a detail view of an end of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe strap immediately before insertion into a housing of a sole according to one embodiment.

Detail 4 is a detail view of an end of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe strap immediately after insertion into a housing of a sole according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe before fastening the fastening terminals to ends of a strap according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe before fastening the fastening terminals to ends of a strap according to one embodiment.

Detail 5 is a detail view of a fastening terminal immediately before its fastening the end of a strap according to one embodiment.

Detail 6 is a detail view of a fastening terminal immediately after fastening the end of a strap according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description shall be read and interpreted with reference to the drawings presented herein, representing an application of a flip-flop or sandal type shoe with unprecedented means of assembly and fastening of straps, with no intent to limit the scope of invention. In one embodiment, the flip-flop or sandal type shoe comprises straps that are easily fastened and unfastened to the sole, allowing the end user to easily change the overall style of the shoe. For example, the invention allows the end consumer to remove a strap of one color and replace it with a strap of a different color.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, a flip-flop or sandal type shoe. The flip-flop or sandal type shoe comprises a strap (2) fastened to a sole (1). In one embodiment, the strap (2) may be manufactured from a polymeric material, such as polypropylene or an elastomeric material.

The strap (2) as illustrated in FIG. 2 and Details 1 and 2, comprises a main body (2 a) and a plurality of ends (2 b). The ends (2 b) of the straps (2) form housings (2 c) whose function is to receive a threaded stopper element (3). The stopper element (3) comprises a main body having a threaded channel (3 a).

Detail 1 shows the fastening of a threaded stopper (3) to the housing (2 c) by an adhesive substance, such as an adhesive specifically designed for polymeric or elastomeric material. Detail 2 illustrates the threaded stopper (3) firmly fixed within the housing (2 c).

Once a threaded stopper (3) is received by the strap housings (2 c) at the ends (2 b) of each strap (2), the ends (2 b) are positioned over the upper housings (1 a) of the sole (1), as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and Details 3 and 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the fastening of the ends (2 b) of the strap (2) to the sole (1). The straps are fastened by threading the ends of fastening terminals (4) into threaded channel (3 a) of the stopper (3) at the end (2 b) of the strap (2), as illustrated in Detail 5. The fastening terminals (4) comprise a screw thread (4 b) whose head is surrounded by a button (4 a), which can be cylindrical, oblong or any form coinciding with the profile defined by the lower part of housings (1 a) of the sole (1). Moreover, the button (4 a) may be fastened to the head of threaded screw (4 b) by way of an adhesive substance.

The fastening components (4) are completely threaded into the threaded channels (3 a) as illustrated in Detail 6, completing the embodiment of the flip-flop or sandal type shoe, represented in FIG. 1. 

1. A flip-flop or sandal type shoe comprising: one or more threaded stoppers; one or more fastening terminals for engaging with the one or more threaded stoppers, the one or more fastening terminals comprising: a threaded screw; and a button surrounding the head of the screw; a strap, wherein the strap is manufactured from a polymeric or elastomeric material, the strap comprising a main body and one or more ends, each end comprising a strap housing to receive the one or more threaded stoppers; a sole comprising one or more sole housings, the one or more sole housings having an upper portion defining a cavity to receive the one or more ends of the strap, and a lower portion defining a recess to receive the one or more fastening terminals, wherein the one or more fastening terminals are fastened to the one or more threaded stoppers within the one or more housings.
 2. The flip-flop or sandal type shoe of claim 1, wherein the each strap housing defines an opening to receive the one or more threaded stoppers, the one or more threaded stoppers fastened within the strap housing with an adhesive.
 3. The flip-flop or sandal type shoe of claim 2, wherein the strap comprises an interchangeable strap.
 4. A method for making a flip-flop or sandal type shoe having interchanging straps, the method comprising: selecting a sole for the shoe, the sole having one or more sole housings, each sole housing comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; placing one or more fastening terminals in the lower portion of the sole housing, the fastening terminal comprising a threaded screw and a button surrounding the head of the screw; placing a strap over the one or more sole housings, each new strap having ends, positioning a threaded stopper within one of the ends; positioning an end within the upper portion of each sole housing; and screwing the threaded screw of a fastening terminal into the treaded stopper.
 5. The method of claim 5, further comprising exchanging one or more straps by threading and unthreading the screws of the fastening terminals to the threaded stoppers. 